Mail-box.



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, Patented May 6, 1902.; A; w. SMITH.

MAIL BOX.

(Application filed Sept. 20, 1901.)

(No Model'.)

l f 1 Z 60 m I S 1 L J Ha UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ALFRED \V. SMITH, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

s'rncrrronrron forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,253, dated May 6, 1902.

' Application fiia September 20,1901. Serial No.75,84=7. No model.)

To all whom it rmty I concern.- Be it known that I, ALFRED W. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of. this specification.

. This invention relates to mail-boxes; and

it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out particularly in-the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a metal mail-box having a door so constructed as to prevent the entrance of water into the box when the door is closed.

The above object is attained by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Y j Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mail-box embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is avertical section through the door and a portion of the end of the box. Fig. 4 is an elevation on the inner face of the door. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the end'of the box and door, as on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a portion of the water-shed which overhangs the door.

Referring to the characters of reference,

1 designates a mail-box of any suitable construction, formed, preferably, of sheet'metal. The door 2 is also formed of sheet metal and is ginged at 3 to the bottomof the box'at the en Y Mounted on the end of the box above the door is a water-shed 4, formed of sheet metal folded upon itself and having ave'rtical strip -5 struck from the under face thereof, which depends in alinement with the outer face of the door when the door is closed. The watershed extends transversely of the end of the box, its end'portions projecting beyond the sides thereof and its outer edge 6 curving outwardly and downwardly beyond the outer face of the door.

tioned that the vertical strip 5 depending Said water-shed is so positherefrom Will allow the top of the door to pass thereunder when closed, so that the outer face of the door is flush with the outer face of said strip. The overhanging watershed will ordinarily prevent the rain, from striking the door at the top thereof; but should the rain beat under the water-shed it .cannot enter the joint 7 between the strip 5 and the top of the door, because the outer faces of said parts stand flush and afford no entrance for the water.

Thedoor, as willbe seen, comprises an outer plate, an inner-plate 8, and interposed central plate 9. The edges of the outer plate of the doorare turned at right angles, so as to embrace the opposite sides of the box when the door is closed, as shown at 10. The inner plate 8 of the door is of smaller area than the outer plate, so that a margin 11 is formed at the sides between the flanges 10 and the edges of the plate 8, which receives the edges of the sides of the box when the door is closed,

through the bottom of the door, whereby the water will be conveyed -away before it can enter the box. Should water by any means enter the sides of the door..it will only follow 1 down the side channels 13 and escape. The projecting ends of the water-shed, however, cover the top of the door at the sides of the box, so that the entrance of water at the top is precluded.

Mounted upon the face of the door is a haspl, adapted to embrace 'a staple 15 on the end of the box for the purpose of locking the door.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a'mail-box, the combination of adoor, a water-shed overhanging the door at the top, a vertical portion below the watershed into alinement with which the face of the door is adapted to swing, said door having a horizontal channel crossing at the top thereof and a vertical channel at either side commu- 5 nicating therewith.

2. In a mail-box, the combination of a hinged door, a vertical strip on the box below which the door is adapted to close, the outer plate of the door having a. flange at 10 each edge adapted to embrace the side of the box and a channel in the edge of the door extending across the top and down the sides.

3. The combination with a mail-box, of a door hinged at its lower end thereto and adapted to swing upwardly to a vertical position when closed, a water-shed overhanging the top of the door and a channel in the edges of the door extending across the top and down the sides, the side channels being open 

